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Definition of self-harm in English:

self-harm

noun

[mass noun]Deliberate injury to oneself, typically as a manifestation of a psychological or psychiatric disorder.

‘Although the initial focus of the group was on deliberate self-harm, it soon became apparent that the women all had a good grasp of why they harmed themselves and the scope of the group widened.’

‘In recent decades, there has been a reduction in suicide rates among Oxbridge students, and the instances of deliberate self-harm are fewer in relation to the general, age-matched population.’

‘He has no history of self-harm, eating disorder, alcohol/drug dependency or misuse.’

‘Other illnesses such as body dismorphic disorder, self-harm and binge eating are also affected by media pressure.’

‘He said that many had gone on to brushes with the law, suicide attempts, self-harm, psychiatric intervention, failed relationships and disturbed behaviour.’

‘One in every 160 teenage girls was treated for deliberate self-harm in hospital last year, according to the latest figures from the National Parasuicide Registry.’

‘Since his re-arrest, his risk of suicide and deliberate self-harm will have increased to moderate to high, whereas this was low whilst he was accessing appropriate care and attention.’

‘The incidences of self-harm, eating disorders, and even suicide among young people in schools and colleges is evidence of the emotional burden imposed by a society which often seems to demand too much of them.’

‘Apparently, last year, almost 3,000 people under the age of 25 were treated in hospital for attempted suicide or deliberate self-harm.’

‘Between 3 and 5 percent of persons who have had an episode of deliberate self-harm die by suicide within five to 10 years.’

‘Self-harm is often also referred to by other names such as deliberate self-harm, attempted suicide, para-suicide, self-mutilation and self-injury.’

‘The assessment and management of risk, in this case that of self-harm, is a prominent part of contemporary psychiatric practice.’

‘They experience communication problems, and so may present staff with a ‘crisis’, for example in the form of deliberate self-harm.’

‘Recruits face bullying, self-harm, injury and early dropout because initial training and care are not better managed, a new report says.’

‘It began in my teenage years with an eating disorder, and progressed to periods of depression, self-harm, further eating disorders and voice-hearing.’

‘All the women had committed at least one act of deliberate self-harm, and 87% were multiple repeaters.’

‘This success justifies to them the need for having spoken in the code of gestural self-harm.’

‘Many authors suggest that there may be a pathway of girls linking self-harm to physical harm directed towards others.’

‘‘Wayne died from deliberate self-harm while the balance of his mind was disturbed,’ he said.’

‘Numerous studies have consistently found that people who engage in deliberate self-harm have difficulties with interpersonal problem-solving.’

verb

[NO OBJECT]

Commit self-harm.

‘In the first chain analysis Rachel self-harmed in response to thinking she was not slim or beautiful enough (which linked to her core-belief of being unlovable and therefore being rejected).’

‘He tried to kill himself several times, self-harmed frequently and very nearly avoided a hospital.’

‘This suggests that many parents are unaware that their children are self-harming.’

‘I have no doubt at all that it was by reason of his depressive illness that he self-harmed.’

‘Rather than be the victim of gossip, I decided to be upfront, and I gave a talk about how I'd self-harmed.’

‘There is a risk that she will self-harm again in reaction to these circumstances.’

‘She said Barber suffered from depression, and had self-harmed and attempted suicide on one occasion this year.’

‘Reports have suggested the men have self-harmed and considered suicide.’

‘One in four women in local prisons self-harms, some repeatedly.’

‘Scandal hits, deals a body blow to his career, and two days later he self-harms.’

‘As someone who has self-harmed, years ago, but also more recently, I can really identify, as I'm sure thousands of others do.’

‘Some are learning how to deal with incontinence and give injections and tube feeds, or coping with a parent who overdoses or self-harms.’

‘Twenty-nine children and young people up to the age of 20 were recorded as having self-harmed.’

‘Mr Sharpe said it was mainly young people who self-harmed due to the pressures of modern living.’

‘Maybe they didn't self-harm or attempt suicide but I bet some of them thought about it.’

‘Staff are often worried that giving attention to a person who self-harms will ‘reinforce’ the behaviour.’